Device for facilitating removal of asphalt tile

ABSTRACT

An elongated, generally rectangular thermally and electrically insulative body is provided at the top with a handle. At least one elongated sheathed electric heating element is fixed against the flat bottom surface of the body. The heating element includes a plurality of parallel looped portions having flat, coplanar, bottom extremities in spaced relation across the width of the bottom. The heating element is coextensive with at least three edges of the bottom of the body. The heating element is regulated by a heat control on the body. In use, the device is moved over the surface of asphalt tiles to heat the tiles and bonding agent therebeneath. The softened tiles are easily lifted with a putty knife or similar tool.

D United States Patent 1111 3, 1 7

[72] Inventor Llw m D- Cl r 2,632,087 3/1953 D'Harlingue 219/228 1321mm Drive, Antioch, 01111-94509 2,680,188 6/1954 Stephens 219/228 [21] Appl. No. 819,342 2,760,045 8/1956 Blue 219/228 UX [22] Filed Apr. 25,1969 2,772,339 11/1956 Bennett et al..... 219/227 [45] Patented Nov-9,1971 2,777,933 1/1957 Weaver et 219/227 2,797,294 6/1957 Cox 219/228 [54] DE C FOR FACLITATING REMOVAL OF 3,400,244 9/1968 Meltzer 219/533 X ASPHALT TILE Primary ExaminerA. Bartis 1 Chin, 3 Drawing Fi AttorneyAlexander B. Blair [52] US. Cl 219/228, 219/240, 219/531,219/533, 219/536 Int- I An elongated generally rectangular thermally [50] Field of Search 219/221, and electricany insulative body is provided at the top with a 228, 255, 258, 455, handle. At least one elongated sheathed electric heating ele- 533,536, 346, 241, 240; 30/140; 126/402, 403 ment is fixed against the flat bottom surface of the body. The 1 1 31 heating element includes a plurality of parallel looped portion's havin flat, coplanar, bottom extremities in spaced rela- [56] References cued tion across the width of the bottom. The heating element is UNITED STATES PATENTS coextensive with at least three edges of the bottom of the 1,926,075 9/1933 Watson 219/355 X body. The heating element is regulated by a-heat control on 2,538,135 3/l952 Walter....- 219/533X the body. In use, the device is moved over the surface of 1,323,504 12/1919 Turner 219/227 X asphalt tiles to heat the tiles and bonding agent therebeneath. 1,515,308 11/1924 Maul 219/455 X The softened tiles are easily lifted with a putty knife or similar 1,625,009 4/1927 Whited 219/227 X tool.

DEVICE FOR FACILITATING REMOVAL OF ASPHALT TILE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is sometimes possible to lay asphalt base tile over old tile of a similar nature. This, however, is impracticable where the old tile has been badly worn or cracked, thus requiring the removal of the old tile. This ha been done by a number of dif ferent, slow, unsatisfactory methods, such as using wood chisels, scrapers, or blowtorches, for softening the tile. These methods, however, have been found quite slow and unsatisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present device is adapted for the removal of standardsize asphalt base tile, such as tiles 9 inches or 12 inches square. Nine-inch tiles are most commonly used in homes, and for that reason, the present device is preferably made to correspond in length to such tiles, although obviously not limited to any particular length. In practice, it is preferred that the device be made about 3 inches wide and comprises a relatively thick horizontal rectangular body formed of a material which is both electrical and heat insulating. Against the bottom of such body is fixed one or more heating coils which may be of any desired form and preferably have flat coplanar bottom surfaces adapted to be movedover a tile to heat it. To the top of the insulating body is connected a handle for maneuvering the device. In practice the device is moved laterally slowly back and forth over a tile to soften it and transmit heat therethrough to the bonding agent therebeneath. This heating action can be carried out quite quickly, and when the tile and its bonding agent have been suitably softened, it readily may be removed with an ordinary putty knife or similar tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the device;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a section on line 33 of FIG. 1, somewhat enlarged.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The device comprises a body I formed of any suitable material which is preferably both electrical and heat insulating for a purpose to be described. Against the bottom surface of the body is arranged one or more heating coils indicated as a whole by the numeral 12. In the present instance, a single coil has been employed having ends 14 from which extend parallel elements 16 looped around as at I8 and extending back as at 20 to the end of the body adjacent the element ends 14. The element at opposite sides of the body then doubles back on itself as at 22 and extends longitudinally along the edges of the body 10 as at 24, the left-hand ends of the element portions 24 in FIG. 2 being integrally joined as at 26.

The heating element referred to may be a conducting element in itself of the type used in electric stoves, or it may comprise an elongated sheath 28 having a resistance wire 30 running therethrough centrally thereof. In either case, the bottom of the heating element throughout its length is flat as at 32 (FIG. 3) and coplanar to provide a better rate of heat transfer to the tile. The heating element may be provided with a plurality of pins 33 which may be pressed into the body 10 to secure the heating element thereto.

The ends 14 of the heating element are provided with current through a cable 34 leading to a heat control member 36 on the top of the body 10 and controlled by a handle 38. This heat control may be of any conventional type and forms no part per se of the present invention. From the heat controller 36, a cable 40 leads to a suitable source of current.

To the top surface of the body 10 is secured two sockets 42 in which are inserted and secured the ends of a suitable handle OPERATION When it is desired to remove asphalt base tile, the device is plugged into a suitable source of current to heatthe coil 12. The controller 36 may be regulated to provide the desired degree of heat. Less heat is required where the tile is laid, for example, on plywood, and more is required where the tile is laid on colder concrete. Assuming that the device is of the length of the tile to be removed, it is placed on the tile and slowly moved back and forth transversely across the tile to heat the latter and to transmit heat through the tile to the bonding agent therebeneath to soften it. After a relatively short time, the bonding agent will be softened, whereupon the device will be lifted and the tile may be removed very easily and quickly with an ordinary putty knife or similar implement.

The heating elements 12 are provided with the flat bottoms 32 to increase the area of contact between the heating element and the tile for the faster and more efficient heating of the latter. As stated, the body It) is formed of material which provides both electrical and heat insulation, thus confining the heat to the spaces beneath the body and assuring a more rapid transference of heat to the tile. There will be very little heat loss, of course, upwardly through the body 10 because of its heat-insulating properties.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved device for facilitating removal of asphalt tile which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As various embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Iclaim:

l. A heating device comprising a generally rectangular, flat horizontal electrically and thermally insulative body, a handle mounted on the top surface of said body, at least one elongated sheathed electric heating element fixed against the bottom of said body having parallel looped portions with flat bottom extremities in spaced relation to each other across the width of said body bottom, the heating element being coextensive with at least three edges of the bottom of said body an electric circuit connected to said element, and a heat control carried by said body and connected to said circuit, said control regulating the electricity flowing through the circuit and heating said element, said flat bottom extremities of said portions being coplanar allowing movement over a smooth, flat tile surface in a direction transverse with the longitudinal axes of said portions with a minimum of friction as said portions are heating the tile surface. 

1. A heating device comprising a generally rectangular, flat horizontal electrically and thermally insulative body, a handle mounted on the top surface of said body, at least one elongated sheathed electric heating element fixed against the bottom of said body having parallel looped portions with flat bottom extremities in spaced relation to each other across the width of said body bottom, the heating element being coextensive with at least three edges of the bottom of said body an electric circuit connected to said element, and a heat control carried by said body and connected to said circuit, said control regulating the electricity flowing through the circuit and heating said element, said flat bottom extremities of said portions being coplanar allowing movement over a smooth, flat tile surface In a direction transverse with the longitudinal axes of said portions with a minimum of friction as said portions are heating the tile surface. 